Locking differential including a spring cap biasing assembly

Abstract

A locking differential includes a plurality of spring biasing assemblies each consisting solely of a helical spring having a spring cap member mounted on one end thereof for isolating the spring from the associated locking pin that extends at one end within the oversized spring bore. The spring cap member has a disc portion the outer diameter of which is at least as great as the outer diameter of the helical spring, and a central plug portion that extends within the spring, whereby the spring bears at one end solely against the cap disc portion and is isolated thereby from the locking pin. The diameter of the cap disc portion is also less than the width of a radially extending access opening that communicates with the oversized spring bore contained in a clutch member, thereby to permit introduction of the spring with the cap mounted thereon into the spring bore via the spring access opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A locking differential for driving a pair of collinearly-arranged axially-spaced output shafts the adjacent ends of which extend through aligned shaft openings contained in the opposed walls of a hollow differential casing, said casing containing an access opening affording access to the casing chamber, comprising: (a) a pair of generally annular collinearly-arranged axially-spaced clutch members adapted for insertion within the casing chamber via the casing access opening to axially spaced positions between, and collinearly aligned relative to the axis of, the casing shaft openings, respectively, the adjacent opposing faces of said clutch members containing at least one pair of diametrically arranged drive grooves;   (b) a pair of generally annular side gears collinearly arranged with, and on opposite sides of, said clutch members, said side gears being internally splined for non-rotatable connection with the output shafts, respectively, said side gears and said clutch members having adjacent faces provided with cooperating clutch teeth, respectively, said clutch members being axially displaceable inwardly and outwardly toward disengaged and engaged positions relative to said side gears, respectively;   (c) a diametrically extending drive rod arranged between said clutch members and extending within said drive grooves, respectively, the remote ends of said drive rod extending radially outwardly beyond said clutch members for connection with said differential casing, the width of said drive grooves being greater than the diameter of said drive rod;   (d) spacer means limiting the extent of axial inward displacement of said side gears relative to said drive rod;   (e) locking means limiting the extent of angular rotational displacement of said clutch member relative to each other, said locking means including a plurality of locking pins each having a first end mounted in a bore contained in the face of one clutch members adjacent the other clutch member, and a second end extending within an oversized bore contained in the adjacent face of said other clutch member; and   (f) spring means biasing said clutch members axially apart toward said engaged position, said spring means including a plurality of spring assemblies mounted in said oversized bores, respectively, each of said spring assemblies consisting of: (1) a helical spring arranged in said spring bore, said spring having a first end adjacent the bottom end of said spring bore and a second end adjacent a spaced from the adjacent end of the associated locking pin; and   (2) a spring cap mounted on said spring second end for isolating said spring from said locking pin, said spring cap including: (a) a circular disc portion having a diameter at lease as great as the outer diameter of said spring, said disc portion extending between, and having remote first and second faces in engagement with, said spring and said locking pin, respectively, said spring second end bearing solely against said cap disc portion; and   (b) a central plug portion extending coaxially within said spring end;   (c) said clutch member containing said oversized bore also containing in its outer periphery a radially inwardly directed spring access opening communicating with said oversized bore, the width of said spring access opening being greater than the diameter of said cap disc portion, whereby said spring with said cap member mounted thereon may be introduced cap-end-first into said oversized bore via said spring access opening.       
     
     
       2. A locking differential as defined in claim 1, wherein said cap plug portion has an outer periphery at least a portion of which is in frictional engagement with the inner circumference of said helical spring. 
     
     
       3. A locking differential as defined in claim 2, wherein the diameter of said plug portion is progressively reduced in the direction away from said disc portion. 
     
     
       4. A locking differential as defined in claim 1, wherein said cap plug portion has the configuration of a right cylinder.